GARY, Ind. (AP) – The auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee's Catholic archdiocese has been named the new bishop for the Gary diocese in northwestern Indiana.

The appointment of 51-year-old Bishop Donald Hying to lead the Gary diocese was announced Monday by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He will replace 76-year-old Bishop Dale Melczek, whose retirement after 18 years leading the diocese is being accepted by Pope Francis.

Hying was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1989 and was rector of St. Francis de Sales Seminary when he was named auxiliary bishop in 2011. He is to be installed as the Gary bishop on Jan. 6.

The Diocese of Gary covers four counties in northwestern Indiana and counts about 185,000 Catholics in the area.